Christmas Victorian Street Lamp Decoration

I have wanted to create a knitted Victorian gas street lamp for a while now, but it was the structural support that has been stopping me, but I recently had a eureka moment.

I've always been enchanted by the charm of Victorian gas street lamps, especially during Christmas. These classic lights evoke the festive spirit, much like the scenes from Dickens' A Christmas Carol or the magical lamppost in The Chronicles of Narnia. The old-fashioned lamps often appear in Victorian-based stories, glowing softly amidst falling snow, and even in Christmas cards where carol singers are depicted under their warm light.

If you're going to have a Christmassy Victorian street light as a Christmas decoration, it needs to be a good size - not life-sized, but a couple of feet high at least. This way, it can be a gathering spot for other festive decorations.

Initially, I thought I'd have to construct a complex support system using dowels and concrete-filled pots, but I realized that might be too cumbersome for most knitters. Then, while searching for something else, I stumbled upon a loo roll spike. It resembles an oversized wooden kitchen paper holder, designed to store spare loo rolls. With a 50cm tall upright pole and a 12 inch wide wooden base, it's perfect for stability, so I ordered two!

In my design, the lamppost is a dark red shade. While black might be more traditional, knitting in black during winter can be tough on the eyes. Plus, I've seen these lamps painted in dark red and green before, which looks more festive and is kinder to my vision.

I plan to include ornate twists up the main lamp post, as the Victorians loved intricate designs over simple cylindrical shapes. The lamp at the top will be part of a 2 litre plastic fizzy pop bottle, illuminated with a battery-powered tea light candle.

One challenge will be the ladder rests, which stick out at right angles and may sag over time. I might need to use old bamboo knitting needles to keep them upright. Adding a festive wreath could also provide support and enhance the overall look.

I'm really looking forward to knitting this project. Ideas that have been on my mind for a while are often the most satisfying to complete. Plus, this will be my last Christmassy project for the year, so it's fitting that it's a big one!












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